News Headlines for Mackay & the Whitsundays, Wednesday 21st February 2018

Bill Shorten has promised a cash splash to fix the jobs drought in the region, if we make him Prime Minister.

People interested in jobs associated with Adani's Carmichael mine are still being encouraged to sign up.

Police are appealing for public assistance following an alleged break and enter attempt at the Mackay Wanderers Football Club. It is alleged that a group of would be thieves kicked the side of the club multiple times trying to gain entry. They caused extensive damage to the building in the incident on Monday afternoon. Police are investigating and have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers

Plenty of opinions will be voiced at The Point Tavern in Midge Point this weekend. Mackay Council is hosting a community consultation session there on Sunday afternoon regarding a draft local coastal plan for the area. Weed control, erosion management, the development of nature trails and boat ramp upgrades are all outlined in the plan. Council wants locals to have a say on how the plan can be improved.

Representatives from the Mackay region have joined forces to workshop ideas to help the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority leading the Reef Guardian networking meeting on Thursday. Past events have seen such projects as the refusal to sell single use plastic bags, reducing energy usage throughout the area, and carpooling networks

George Christensen has hit back at those who don't agree with his social media post while in Mackay. He was in town to discuss the new ring road, but couldn't side step the questions. He says while he was only having a joke, the Greens are the ones doing the harm.

LOCAL SPORT

Capricorn Equestrian Group are offering riders a last chance for a tune up ahead of the QLD State Pony Club Finals. The finals are in Nambour on the 3rd of April with the Capricorn Centre opening up their gates for a two day competition on March 31st & April 1st. They hope it will give horses and riders a chance to have a comp under their belt before the event

Nippers from Eimeo, Sarina and Mackay Surf Life Saving Clubs wills join forces at the 2018 Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships. The youngsters will make up the North Barrier Branch team and head to Alexandra Headlands next month. They will be among the other 1,500 kids heading to the Sunshine Coast for the event

WEATHER

MACKAY & WHITSUNDAYS:  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. A thunderstorm likely. Heavy falls possible. Winds NE/SE 15 to 20 km/h tending SE/SW early in the morning then tending NE/SE in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to the low 20s with daytime temperatures reaching around 30. 

ON THE WATERS: East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots at times, inshore in the late afternoon. Winds tending northeasterly south of Sarina. Seas Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore south of Mackay by early evening. Swell Easterly below 1 metre.

 UV Alert from 8:10 am to 4:10 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 14 [Extreme]

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